Catheter assembly

Abstract

The catheter assembly is provided with a conventional catheter which extends from a hub. In addition, a tube or blunt needle is mounted within the hub coaxially of the catheter and is provided with an elastomeric valve over the open end. The elastomeric valve is formed by a pair of rubber sheaths, each of which has a closed end for sealing the tube against a back flow of blood. The sheaths can be pierced by a needle in order to perform a venipuncture while re-sealing upon removal of the needle. The catheter assembly may also be connected with a male luer connector in a manner to push the sheaths over the tube so as to expose the lumen of the catheter to the connector.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A catheter assembly comprising a hub;   a catheter secured to and extending from said hub to define a flow path;   a tube secured to and within said hub to define a flow path, said tube being coaxial with said catheter; and   an elastomeric valve mounted on one end of said tube remote from said catheter and within said hub, said valve having a pair of walls disposed in spaced apart relation transversely of said tube to seal said one end of said tube against a flow of blood from said catheter.   
     
     
       2. A catheter assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said elastomeric valve includes a pair of sheaths disposed over said tube in overlying relation, each sheath having a closed end defining a respective one of said walls. 
     
     
       3. A catheter assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said sheath is made of rubber. 
     
     
       4. A catheter assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein each wall has a thickness in the range of from 0.010 inches to 0.040 inch. 
     
     
       5. A catheter assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said hub has a conically shaped bore for receiving a tapered male luer hub therein in mating relation. 
     
     
       6. A combination comprising a catheter assembly having a hub, a catheter secured to and extending from said hub to define a flow path, a tube secured to and within said hub coaxially of said catheter; and an elastomeric valve on one end of said tube, said valve having a pair of walls disposed transversely of said tube to seal said one end of said tube against a flow of blood from said catheter; and   a needle assembly having a needle piercing said walls and disposed coaxially within said tube and said catheter, said needle being disposed to extend from said catheter for passage into a vein.   
     
     
       7. The combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein said needle assembly includes a holder mounting said needle therein and being disposed in said hub. 
     
     
       8. The combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein said elastomeric valve includes a pair of sheaths disposed over said tube in overlying relation, each sheath having a closed end defining a respective one of said walls and being in sealed relation about said needle. 
     
     
       9. The combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said hub has a conically shaped bore and said holder is matingly received in said bore. 
     
     
       10. The combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein each sheath is made of rubber. 
     
     
       11. The combination as set forth in claim 10 wherein each said wall has a thickness of from 0.010 to 0.040 inches. 
     
     
       12. In combination a catheter assembly having a hub, a catheter needle secured to and extending from said hub to define a flow path and a tube secured to and within said hub coaxially of said catheter;   a male luer connector having a longitudinal bore slidably received one end of said tube therein in seal-tight relation and a forward end matingly received in said hub; and   a pair of elastomeric sheaths mounted on said one end of said tube and being compressed between said forward end of said male luer connector and an interior of said hub, said sheaths being expandable into a position sealing over said one end of said tube upon removal of said male luer connector from said catheter assembly to seal said tube against a flow of blood from said catheter.   
     
     
       13. The combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein each sheath is made of rubber. 
     
     
       14. The combination as set forth in claim 13 wherein each sheath is of a thickness in the range of from 0.010 to 0.040 inches.